Illuminating device



Nov. 3, 1936. J. A. Hol-:VELER ILLUMINATING DEVICE Original Filed Feb. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WN. mw um.

INVENTOR NOV. 3, 1936. 1 A HOEVELR 2,059,868

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Original Filed Feb. l16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f'li I I l I 1* w I I l lNvENToR a @my Patented Nov.. 3, 1936 'PATENT OFFICE mLUMINATING DEVICE John A. Hoeveler, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Reflector Company,

Pittsburgh,

Pa., a, corporation of New Jersey Application February 16, 1933, Serial No. 657,008 Renewed September 22, 1936 4 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of illumination and, in particular, to an illuminating device of the so-called indirect type.

While numerous types of indirect lighting xtures are on the market at the present time, I have found that there are many objections to the use of mostknown types of units. It is generally recognized that indirect illumination is the form of articial lighting which provides greatest ocular comfort or, to put it another way, causes least ocular fatigue, but there are many who do not like the appearance of the opaque bowl characteristic of such fixtures. I have invented a lighting iixture which overcomes most of the objections inherent in thedevices of the prior art and, furthermore, provides several additional advantages of considerable importance.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an opaque bowl having generally the shape of an inverted conical frustum, which is adapted to be suspended from the ceiling. I place a reflector within the bowl for reecting the major portion of the light upward to the ceiling. The reflector also is provided with a portionl which transmits light, which portion may be of clear or translucent glass, or consist merely of an opening in the reflector. As a closure for the light transmitting portion of the reflector I also provide a cap of colored or colorless material capable of transmitting light and mount a secondary reflective bowl therebelow for the purpose of illuminating the exterior of the rst-mentioned bowl. It is possible by the combination described to provide a very excellent illumination for `a room from a single,k nxture and, at the same time, to illuminatethe exterior of the opaque bowl so that it has the appearance of a high grade translucent glass whereas, in fact, it may be made of inexpensive, light weight metal. y

As a modification of the invention, I may suspend a plurality oi auxiliary bowls below the principal or primary bowl and provide for indirect illumination oi the exterior. oi each bowl.

The combination with the opaque bowl of the interior reiiector makes it possible to design each member ci the combination with a View to the .maximum emciency without compromising between two relatively inconsistent objectives, namely, 'the most emcient lighting oi the room by reiiected light and the most attractive display oi the fixture itself. Other advantages and novel features of the invention will be pointed out as the description thereof proceeds.-

My cop-ending application Serial No. 642,255,

(Cl. Z110-78) iiled November 11, 1932, for Reiiectors, describes and claims a lighting fixture including an opaque main reiiector, an opaque supplemental reiector, and colored means spaced from thel latter through which a portion of the light from a source Within the main reector passes and is reilected by the supplemental reflector as colored light on to thel exterior of the opaque main reflector.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a present preferred embodiment, together with a modified form, although it is obvious that the details of the invention may be changed radically from the present disclosure within the scope of my broader claims. In the drawings:

Figure l is a half sectional and half elevational View, partly broken away, of a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified form; and

Figure 3 is a partially broken away view similar to Figure l showing a further modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a lighting xture indicated generally at lll, comprises a socket husk l l which may be suspended from the ceiling by any desired type of hanger. The husl: encloses a socket (not shown) into which is screwed a conventional type of electric light bulb l2. Arms i3 secured within the husk il provide a tripod support for the lighting fixture.

The fixture proper includes a primary bowl lll of generally frusto-conical shape. The bowl may be of any material and is preferably opaque. It may conveniently be made of spun aluminum lil sheet of light gauge with etched and lacquered external surface. The bowl It has an outwardly extending upper portion l5, an inturned upper flange i6 and a lower flange Il. A supporting ring lll is seated under the upper flange I6 of i the bowl lil and is provided with lugs i9 for engaging hook portions 2Q on the ends of the arms it.

A reiiector il has a silvered rele'cting portion 22 and a transmitting portion 2E. is seated in the ring i8 by the engagement of its rim with a step iiange @il on the inner periphery of the Below the transmitting portion of the reector 2E, a cap 25 of colored or colorless material capable of transmitting light is supported by the engagementoi its edge in the lower flange il of the bowl lil.

Radial arms E@ extend from the lower edge of The lreflector the bowl I4 for supporting a secondary bowl 21 having a shape somewhat similar to that of the bowl I4 but somewhat smaller in size. The upper rim 28 of the bowl 21 is slotted at 29 whereby a bayonet connection with the radial arm 26 may be effected.

An annular flange 30,is formed adjacent the lower end of the bowl 21 and is provided with perforations 3|. A cross bar 32 is seated on the flange and serves to suspend a crystal 33 and a tertiary bowl 34.

When the bulb I2 is switched on, the major portion of the light therefrom impinges upon the silvered reflecting portion 22 of the reflector 2| and is reflected to the ceiling and thence to all parts of the room in which the fixture is installed. It will be apparent that the reflecting portion of the reflector 2| is of such shape as to reflect the maximum amount of light from the bulb to the ceiling with perfect uniformity. At the same time, a portion of the light from the bulb I2 traverses the light transmitting .portion 23 of the reflector and the cap 25, whereupon it impinges upon the interior of the bowl 21. The latter is not brightly polished but has considerable reflecting capacity and as a result, light rays having the color of the cap 25 are reflected from the bowl 21 on to the portion of the bowl I4 between the lower edge of the latter and the out-turned portion I5 thereof. I

Light from the bulb I2 also traverses the perforations 3| in the flange 30 adjacent the bottom of the bowl 21 after traversing the light transmitting portion 23 of the reflector 2| and the cap 25. This light is reflected by the bowl 34 on to the exterior portion of the bowl 21 between with a view to striking appearance.

its lower edge and the out-turned portion thereof. Direct light from the b ,ulb I2 also filters down to and illuminates the" crystal 33 which mirrors itself in the bowl 34 and thus high lights the e'xterioi` thereof, completing a most attractive display of the fixture.

`The appearance of the device just described, when lighted, is quite remarkable. The outer surfaces of the bowls are illuminated with a soft diffused light having the' color of the cap 25 which makes the bowls appear exactly as if they were composed of a beautiful, highgrade, lightly translucent glass illuminated from within. The extreme outer portion of the bowls being shaded from the light reflected on the major" portion of the exterior thereof, form darkened bands separating the beautifully illuminated portions of the bowls, thus giving the appearance of metal bands in which luminous translucent glass bowls are suspended. The illumination of the crystal 33 completes the effect and the whole structure presents a highly pleasing appearance. At the same time the shape and efficiency of the reectorv 2| are such that uniform illumination is provided throughout the room by indirect rays exclusively. Since the` xture may be largely composed of some sheet metal of light gauge, it can be manufactured at comparatively low cost.

Since the primary bowl i4 and the smaller bowl or bowls suspended therefrom are not relied upon to reflect the maJ'OI' portion 0f the light to the ceiling for a second reflection into the room, itis possible to design the exterior bowl The reflector 2| itself is concealed and its appearance is immaterial.

By my invention it is possible to provide a xture which has remarkably elcient illumi- .42 received on the hook nating qualities while' at the same time is of really outstanding artistic merit. By using a reflector which is separate from the exterior bowl both functionally and physically, I am able to achieve a control of the upwardly reflected light which otherwise would be impossible. The use of a separate, readily removable reflector, furthermore, achieves a permanence of reflecting efficiency because of the ease with which the rellector may be removed for repeated cleaning, without the necessity of otherwise taking the fixture apart. Similarly, since the color is introduced into the light traversing the transmitting portion of the reflector by a cap separate from the reflector, there is no chance of colored light reaching the ceiling to a'ect the quality of the light in the room.

The structure described is desirable from a mechanical standpoint since it permits a free open space for renewing or changing the lamp bulb, as well as for removing the reflector, although it will be evident that the reflector need not necessarily be removed in order to clean the interior reflecting surface thereof.

Another very important feature of the invention is that the cap 25 may easily be removed and changed so that the entire appearance of the fixture can be altered to suit various decerative schemes at the pleasure of the user. This feature alsomakes it possible for a standard unit, which may be produced cheaply in quantities, to be employed for a wide variety of situations where hitherto it has been the custom to use specially designed and hence much more expensive fixtures, by accommodating the cap 25 to provide a decoration of the exterior surfaces of the fixture in harmony with the decorations of the particular room in which it is to be installed.

Another important feature of the invention illustrated is that the space between the exterior bowl and the interior reflector may be entirely closed if my preferred one piece reflector 22 having a reflecting portion and also a transmitting portion, be employed. The ring I8 extends between the upper edges of the bowl in Figure 2. This form of the invention, shown generally at 35, is similar to that already described in that it comprises a socket husk 35 enc1osing socket 31 into which a bulb 38 is screwed. Arms 39 depending from the socket husk support a bowl 40 similar to the bowl I4, through the medium of a ring 4I having lugs 39 ends 43 of the arms A reflector SIS is suspendedby-its upper edge from the inner edge of the ring 4|. The reflector lill has a reflecting portion 45 and a light transmitting portion lf-. it also has a central ,opening (il. opening l1 and provide a. support for a. suspension stud 5E?. A flnial 5| is screwed onto the lower end of the stud 5|) and supports an auxiliary or secondary bowl 52 having an upturned annular shoulder 53. A cap 54 performing the same function as cap 25 having a central opening for admitting the stud 5E, is supported on the shoulder 53 with its upper edge engaging a flange on the lower edge of the bowl flu.

A cap 48 and a disc i9 cover the` The effect produced by the structure of Figure 2 is similar to that of the device of Figure 1 except that when lighted, it exhibits only one exteriorly illuminated zone. The major portion of the light from the bulb 38, of course, is'

reflected onto the ceiling by the reflector portion 45 of the reflector 44. The portion of the light traversing the transmitting portion 46 of the reflector also passes through the cap 54 vand is reflected by the bowl 52 onto the exterior of th'e bowl 40. It will be apparent that the fixture of Figure 2 will be illuminated exteriorly only between the upper out-turned rim portion thereof and the upper edge of vthe bowl52. This combination of light and dark zones constitutes or replacement of any part.

vBy aslight modification of the structure of Figure 1, it is possible to illuminate successive zones of the exterior ofv the fixture by light of different colors. In Figure 3, I have shown ya portion of the device of Figure 1 incorporating this modification. Corresponding parts in Figure 3 have the same reference numerals as in Figure 1 with a prime affixed. The intermediate bowl 21 has its lower end formed to provide a seat 30' for a cap 56. formed in the bowl below the seat 30 so that light traversingthe cap 56 impinges upon theA interiorof the third bowl 34'. Light also impinges directly upon the crystal 33' which-is suspended on a screw, traversing a central-hole in thecolor cap 56. i

The color of the light reflected upon'the exterior of the bowl' 21', 'of course, will depend upon the character of the color of cap 56 and this, in turn, will depend upon the color of the main cap' 25. The light passing throughthe main cap 25, in other words, must contain a suilicient amount of light of the color vtransmitted by the second cap 56 to properly villuminate the exterior of the bowl 2l. The colors of the two caps maybe chosen in accordance with wellknown laws of light transmission to provide the exterior of the fixture with illumi nated zones of different colors. For instance, if an amber cap 25 is used at the bottom of ,the upper member, the exterior surface thereof will be illuminated with an amber light. How,

ever, amber allows plenty of red light to pass through so that a red cap 56 placed at the bottom of the middle member will provide red illumination for the exterior surface thereof and of crystal 33. f

Similarly, a light blue color cap at the top with a dark blue at the bottom will give these two tones of blue on the upper and middle members respectively and dark blue in the crystal 33'. y

Although I have illustrated and described herein but a single present preferred embodiment of the invention together wit-h a slight modification thereof-it will be apparent that Perforations 3 I are' numerous changes in the invention as disclosed lwill occur to those skilled in the art and may be made without depanting from thespirit of the invention or the scope of `the -appended claims. w

I claim:

v 1. In a lighting fixture, the combination with an opaque exterior bowl having an open bottom, an inwardly extending ring seated in the upper 'edge thereof, the edge -of the bowl being turned over the ring, supporting means attached to saidring, and a reflector having a light-transmitting portion, seated on said ring, a color cap closing the open bottom of said bowl and underlying said flight-transmitting portion, and means belowA the cap effective to reflect colored light passing therethrough onto the exterior of` said firstmentioned bowl.`

2. In a` lighting fixture, th'e combination with an opaque, open-bottom bowl, means extending upwardly from said bowl for supporting it from above, meanscarriedon said supporting means forming a seat within said bowl, a reflector bowl positioned in said seat and having a lighttransmitting portion, a second opaque bowl below the` first-mentioned bowl `and adapted to reflect light passing through lthe transmitting por.

tion of said reflector on to the exterior of vthe first-mentionedy bowl, and a color filter mounted on said first-mentioned bowl between 'the transbowl being of ysuch character as to transmit at least a portion of the light impinging thereon,a second opaque bowl below the first-mentioned bowl and adapted to reflect light passing through said reflector bowl onto the exterior of the first- 'mentioned bowl, and a color filter mounted on said first-mentioned bowl between said reflector bowl and thesecond-mentioned opaque bowl.

4 In an illuminating device, the combination' with an open bottom, opaque bowl tapering downwardly whereby to permit the exterior illumination thereof by light reflected from below, alight source supported within the bowl, an integral, one-piece reflector suspended in the, bowl by its upper edge, said reector having upper reflecting and lower transmitting portions and being shaped and adapted to reflect the major portion of theA light from said sourceupwardly and outwardly of said bowl and to transmit a minor portionlof the light 'downwardly through the open bottom of the bowl, a second reflector spaced below the open bottom f the bowl adapted to reflect said minor portion of the light onto the exterior of said bowl, said bowl having an inwardly extending flange adjacent its lower end, and a color cap seated therein through which the light traversing at the transmitting portion of the firstmentioned reflector is adapted to pass before being reflected by the second-mentioned reflector onto the exterior of the bowl.

- JOHN A. HOEVELER. 

